Goodreads So White: Why the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Lack Diversity

The 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards nominees have dropped—and suddenly the internet realized what many BIPOC readers have known for years: Goodreads is a popularity contest, not a measure of the year’s best books.

This week, Eve Laren breaks down exactly why the 2025 Goodreads Awards are overwhelmingly white, how the algorithm quietly reinforces publishing bias, and why this “just for fun” award has very real consequences for authors of color.

If you care about diverse books, authors of color, and breaking the bias in book awards, this is the episode to take notes on. The system is flawed—but readers can shift it. Let’s talk about how.

Chapters:

01:05 – How the Goodreads Choice Awards Actually Work

03:45 – The Feedback Loop: Marketing, Hype & Privilege

06:10 – Why Readers Are Mad in 2025

08:40 – Why This Award Still Matters

10:12 – How Readers Can Influence the 2026 Awards

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